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Post by connrock on Oct 5, 2007 7:58:46 GMT -5
Well she aint the purtiest but she'll do fer now! As you can see I'm still having problems with the amount of solder to use and getting it to go where I want it. The solder goes toward the heat applied but when I try to get it to move I end up with another melt down! I had this type of problem right on the top portion of the cross.You can see from about the very top, or 12 o'clock, to about 2 o'clock that I did a little "body work" trying to get things smoothed off again. I'm getting there slow but sure. connrock
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Oct 5, 2007 9:55:46 GMT -5
wowzer!!! THat is sweet
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Post by beefjello on Oct 5, 2007 10:10:03 GMT -5
Very nice Tom! You're takin' to silver like a duck to water ;D
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Post by Tonyterner on Oct 5, 2007 10:45:01 GMT -5
Great job Tom! I can see a big improvement in your technique from the bracelet. I like the design, did you come up with that yourself? At the rate your learning your gonna be putting out some very fine work in no time. If your wallet holds out that is. When are you moving on to gold? ;D ;D ;D
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Post by BuiltonRock on Oct 5, 2007 15:17:52 GMT -5
I like it Conn, very nice design and the workmanship is perty good tu! john
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stonesnbones
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2007
Posts: 255
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Post by stonesnbones on Oct 5, 2007 15:49:25 GMT -5
Very nice you got the hang of it for sure!
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Post by docone31 on Oct 5, 2007 18:45:56 GMT -5
Looks good. Try putting solder on the thicker pieces where the smaller silver is going to go. Then put the smaller silver on the joint, reapply heat. You will keep more detail on the solder joint. Those projects are incredibly hard to do. The outside form is easy, the inside form is miserable to fit. They never fit right the second time. Lookin good. Keep heating silver.
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Post by cpdad on Oct 5, 2007 19:28:47 GMT -5
i likes it a lot!...kev.
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Oct 6, 2007 2:17:25 GMT -5
Looks ok Tom If you hadnt pointed out the weaknesses I wouldnt have seen them in passing ,
Hope you have a good day DONT burn the carpet , Homer OR -------- N----- will complain
Jack Yorkshire UK
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Post by connrock on Oct 6, 2007 5:51:53 GMT -5
stefan, Wowzer!!!! You're too kind!
connrock
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Post by connrock on Oct 6, 2007 5:53:15 GMT -5
beefjello, Thanks!! Yeah,,,,,I'm the duck with the life jacket on!!!
connrock
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Post by connrock on Oct 6, 2007 6:02:12 GMT -5
tonyterner, Thanks!! Yes it's my design but it was kinda like a design it as I go along type thing.I really didn't know what I wanted it to look like except that it was a cross.When I finished the outer cross it "needed" something and that's where ALL the trouble started! If you can remember what I said in an email,,,, "It's simple,,,,,,,,well not all that simple". That's when my "trek" began! Gold? Hmmmmmmmm? Gotta think on that one!! OK,,,,How would you like to be the soul silent partner of "Tom's Goldsmith Works"? I can start right after you send me the blank check!! LOL connrock
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Post by connrock on Oct 6, 2007 6:03:20 GMT -5
John,Thanks!!!
I'm workin on the workmanship and getting there slow but sure!
connrock
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Post by connrock on Oct 6, 2007 6:05:24 GMT -5
stonesnbones, Thanks!! I'm getting the hang of it because of great folks like you and others who are unselfishly giving me knowledge that is priceless!!!
connrock
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Post by connrock on Oct 6, 2007 6:17:06 GMT -5
Doc, Thanks for another great tip on "sweating" the detail joints! I will probably try it today on my latest "melt down"!!
You are sooooooooooooooooooooooooo right about that inside design being a tuffy and not fitting the 2nd time!
I fit that darn thing PERFECT with all those tiny mitered joints matching to within a kazillionth of an inch!There's more light in a hidden cave then you could see through each and every joint!
Ha!! Never got it back that way again!!!Just trying to hold all those pieces at once for soldering took me a full day!! I tried desperately to get the inner square wire in the center frame of the thicker outer square wire so that the faces on both sides would be equal!! Fahgetaboutit!!!!!!!!
Between saying "the" prayer more then I would liked to have and getting totally frustrated with pieces not fitting right I gave up a "put it to her"!! It was also a first for me soldering multiple joints at once which was a trip in itself!!
I'm learning a LOT every day and sooner or later I'll get it.
connrock
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Post by connrock on Oct 6, 2007 6:19:36 GMT -5
kevin, Thanks!! connrock
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Post by connrock on Oct 6, 2007 6:25:51 GMT -5
Jack, Thanks!!
I do a lot of self criticizing so I try to point out my mistakes so everyone can see where I went wrong. Also if there's another person trying to do this they can see the mistakes I've made and hopefully not have to go through it as I am.
It's kind of like a "walking tutorial" on silversmithing. Me being the student and the others who have helped me being the Masters!
connrock
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Oct 8, 2007 1:44:01 GMT -5
Hi Tom, I was thinking about this cross and holding it in place
In Welding as you know you have clamps could you wire the pieces tempory in place before soldering ? Just a dum Idea from me !!! who hasent done any silver soldering !!!!!!!!!!!
jack yorkshire UK
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Post by connrock on Oct 8, 2007 5:27:41 GMT -5
Jack, Not a dumb question at all!
A product called Binding Wire which comes in different gages is used for just that purpose,,,,to hold pieces to be silver soldered!!
connrock
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